August 2016 Update

A friend recently pointed out to me that she hadn’t seen a post on our blog in months.  Please forgive our oversight.  Due to the fact that we have not been in full time ministry, there isn’t much to tell on a monthly basis other than "we are working”.  Robert was working six days a week plus four evenings at the University and teaching private English classes in between. Roxanne had no need to search for a job upon finishing in December at Costa Rica Christian School; Julianna’s school called her in January to ask her to take the first grade teaching position because one of their American teachers had returned to the States after her Christmas break. Roxanne taught English classes at the University four nights a week as well and private classes on Saturday mornings. All of this to keep us afloat. When Roxanne lost her voice and struggled for three months with throat issues, the University did not take her back on for the following quarter. Being so busy teaching, there was no time for any ministry. How we missed that! Robert was praying for a change that would allow him some time for ministry. A pastor friend told him: “Don’t quit your job; let God take you out of there.” About a month later, over a misunderstanding, Robert was released from the University.

Since then, Robert has had a steady stream of translation work to do. He was sent to Thailand for two weeks as a simultaneous interpreter for a conference for trainers of pastors. He is very thankful for the great experience. He absolutely loved the Thai hospitality and the delicious cuisine. But he also returned with a burden for that country of 70 million, where less than 1% know Jesus. He was able to find some Gospel tracts in Thai that he gave to the grateful hotel staff! Upon his return, besides written translations, he has interpreted for preachers and continues with his private English lessons. Thanks to having a more flexible schedule now, this month he is hosting a short term mission group from Canada, July 30th to August 13th, for whom he will also be interpreting. Please be in prayer for the upcoming workshop for pastoral couples and leaders, as well as ministering alongside four churches in poor communities through dentistry and women’s and children’s ministries. We are so grateful to the Lord for opening the doors for him to be in ministry again!

If you would like to help with our support, you can do so by sending your tax-deductible contributions to the addresses on the right hand margin. We would be truly grateful.

Roxanne enjoys her job as a first grade teacher at Sojourn Academy, which is a school for missionary children. Since she joined the Academy half way through the school year, she only had a right to two weeks holidays, so she is spending the summer tutoring students. But we are thankful that she was able to save enough money from her brief job at the University to pay for two plane tickets to Canada. She and Julianna went for two weeks to visit our son in June.

We are thrilled to announce the birth of Adryanna Roxanne Grego on May 26, 2016. Her older sister, Gabriella, is constantly pausing from her play time to give her kisses. Roxanne and Julianna so enjoyed taking on their roles as Grandma and Auntie during their visit! We also welcome our new daughter-in-law to the family! David and Ashley were wed in a small ceremony this year and hope to have a reception with the Canadian side of the family next summer, finances permitting. David currently works at a call center. The company told him they would help him with his studies, as it pertains to the job. He hopes to study Business Administration.

Julianna is thankful that she passed ninth grade with better grades than the previous year. She is helping out with the little kids during summer camp at Sojourn Academy and will begin tenth grade in September. At that time, she will also be studying hairdressing on Saturdays at an institute here in San José.

We are thankful for your prayers for our family. The Lord is good. All the time. We praise His wonderful name! May He pour out His blessings on your family!

Robert, Roxanne, and family

December 31, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As this year comes to a close, we are grateful to the Lord for sustaining us through a prolonged transition.  

As you may recall, Roxanne lost her job as a kindergarten teacher at Lighthouse International School because of a government ruling and decision of the school board.  She was quickly hired temporarily at Costa Rica Christian School to cover the last trimester of the year (Sept. to Dec.) because the high school English grammar teacher had moved to the States. It’s December, so she is looking for a job again.  She will be teaching an ESL course or two at the university where Robert works, but that does not provide sufficient income.  Please remember her in your prayers, that the Lord would supply a permanent job that she would enjoy and would provide the needed family income.

Julianna has adjusted well to her new school, Sojourn Academy, which is just two doors down from where we are living. It is a very small school.  Juli is just one of ten in her ninth grade class but this gives her plenty of individualized attention.  Her grades have improved from last year, for which we are very grateful.  She continues to enjoy playing volleyball, although, because the school is so small, she really misses the competitions with other schools.

David moved back to Canada in July and has been searching for a job and finishing up his high school degree.  He has a serious relationship with Ashley, whom he started dating over Skype when he was still in Costa Rica, and they plan to get married in the near future (no date set yet).  Ashley has a one-year-old daughter whom David has readily “adopted”, taking on the role of daddy.  He and Ashley attend church regularly and receive premarital counseling from her grandmother, who is a leader in the church.  This is a huge change from the David who was so depressed, angry at God and into vices just a few months ago!  He had to hit bottom to bounce back again. We praise God for the work he is doing in David’s life. Thank you to all who have been praying for him. God is good!

Robert has been teaching English part time at Universidad Latina for a year now.  He has also been doing some English tutoring. This has provided opportunities to witness to his students, to pray for some of them in crisis, and even lead one of his students to Christ. Pray for more opportunities like this to share his faith and for doors to open in this new year to teach more classes.

The Christmas season has been an excellent time to reach out to friends and neighbours. We led carol singing in two home Bible study groups, and at the family gathering (Robert’s Aunt, Uncle, and cousins) on the 24th. With other missionaries from Christ For the City, we went door to door through the neighbourhood one evening, singing carols and praying for the families.  Many were visibly impacted, even to the point of tears.  We have so enjoyed using our voices again for God’s glory.

We continue to look for people who would be willing to come on board with us financially, contributing monthly through Christ For the City so that we can go back to working full time in the ministry.  Please pray about and consider if you should be one of those who would make a commitment with us.  If so, the information to do so is on the right side of the blog page.

As 2015 comes to a close, we are grateful for God’s faithfulness to us and for your prayers.  We look forward to what God has in store for us in 2016.  May the Lord bless you and yours during this new year, filling your lives with joy, peace, health, and most of all, His presence.

With grateful hearts,

Robert, Roxanne, David and Julianna

The Grego Gazette - May 2015

Teacher Transition

After months of working as a kindergarten teacher at Lighthouse International School, Roxanne was informed that the Board of Education of Costa Rica has declared that all teachers need a grade-specific degree, and that her days of teaching will come to an end in June. In other words, to teach kindergarten, as she has been doing, she now needs a degree in Preschool Education. The same applies for Elementary or High school. Our M.Ed. now only allows us to teach adults. Because Roxanne’s undergrad is in Christian Education, she could teach Bible classes in a Christian school, but such a position is rare. We covet your prayers for a good paying job that she would enjoy, and where she can be a blessing.

This situation causes further repercussions, of course, as it also means Julianna cannot continue going to school at Lighthouse. We currently pay half price because Roxanne is a teacher there. We can’t afford to pay full price. Pray for God to open doors for her at another school where she will quickly adjust...yet again.

Robert's Roaming

Robert has been teaching English part time at the Universidad Latina (from where he earned his Business degree 24 years ago!). It provides a small income, Social Security benefits, contacts with business people for private tutoring, and an opportunity to witness. As this is not a full time position yet, he is seeking ESL tutoring and interpreting opportunities to help supplement our income. Due to his current schedule, he is able to participate in ministry with Christ For the City. In fact, he has been asked to help with a couple of ministries that work among troubled and marginalized youth.

Troubled Teens

Pavas is a dangerous and poor section of San José, where Christ For the City has been serving the community for years. We used to take mission groups out there to help. Recently, the local church there has led quite a few violent gang members to Christ. So far, 40 mercenaries have been radically transformed by the Lord!  They are witnessing to other gang members and more are being added to their number. These young people are in need of discipleship. They are also interested in learning English. Robert has been asked to help out in both areas with these new believers.

Renacer is a ministry of Christ for the City that rehabilitates street girls. At the beginning of the year, Robert was the interpreter for a short term mission team that was working at the Renacer home. These girls expressed their interest in learning English and the director asked Robert to give the girls classes. There is no budget for this, of course, so he will need to find sponsors in order to make this a reality. Learning English will open doors for jobs for these two groups of high social risk young people.

Epilogue

Lastly, our church, Comunidad P.A.S., has been growing by leaps and bounds. We have been asked to help disciple new believers in cell groups, as well as teach Bible classes in their discipleship program.

We are looking for people who would be willing to come on board with us financially, contributing monthly through Christ For the City, so that Robert can be involved in the ministry, hopefully full time. When we have raised enough, Roxanne could also return to full time ministry. As many of you know, that is where our heart is. That is what we are called to do. Please pray about, and consider if you should be one of those who could make a commitment to help us find the funding for these ministries. The pertinent information is on the right side of the blog.

We are so grateful for your prayers for us as a family. The Lord is faithful. We know He will guide our steps and provide for our needs, as He always has! May He do the same for you, too!

With grateful hearts,

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna

November - December 2014

2014 is almost behind us. It has been a year of great transition for us as a family. In March, Robert and David flew to Costa Rica for a three week trip which turned into a permanent one. Feeling more at home here and quickly finding a job, the men of the household decided that they didn’t want to return to the long Canadian winter and the lack of work. Upon the completion of the school year, Julianna and Roxanne joined them in the tropics.  

Robert had secured a job for Roxanne before she even arrived in San José, so she hit the ground running. The day after arriving, we moved as a family into a rented house and set up our humble living quarters. The next day, Roxanne started to work as a Kindergarten teacher at Lighthouse International School, and absolutely loves it!  It’s a lot of work, often consuming extra hours at home, but it is rewarding and the children are a joy.

Julianna attends the same Christian school where Roxanne works. It was a huge adjustment for her at first. The work load is tremendous but she has adapted now and is doing well.

Robert was quickly snatched up as a medical interpreter at a call center when he first arrived and enjoyed his time there. When the school entered into a crisis and needed a quick substitute teacher for Julianna’s class, Robert quit his job at the call center in order to fill that void. Now that a more permanent person has been found, he has possible jobs in two different universities as a part time English professor and as a professor in the Translations department. He is also looking forward to being more involved in Christ for the City again, helping out with short term teams. One team he will be working with arrives in January.  

David’s first month here was a spiritual high and he was doing so well. Unfortunately, that didn’t last. He needs your prayers as he struggles in his spiritual journey. We know the Lord has great plans for him and will bring them to fruition in His perfect timing. David recently started classes at a technical school, taking motorcycle mechanics, and is enjoying it. It is only one night a week, though. Please pray he finds a job to occupy his time during the day.

As this year comes to a close, we are thankful for God’s provision and look forward to a bright future. We witnessed His mighty hand when, just after Robert and David arrived to Costa Rica, we received an unexpected provision, large enough to finally get out of the large debt we were unable to shake off while in Canada. We trust this new year of 2015 will hold much blessing, not only for our own family, but also for yours. The Lord is good. He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Roxanne, Robert, David and Julianna

The Grego Gazette - July, 2014

Looking back on our last letter in February, we realize so much has changed in just a few short months. Our world has been turned upside down, literally. Our family is once again Southbound.

Relocating!

Robert and David’s trip to Costa Rica in March was supposed to be only three weeks long, as Robert was to get paperwork done for his Canadian residency, and also researching some possibilities for the future, while David was going to enjoy his 16th birthday away from the bitter Canadian winter. God had other plans, however. Robert barely got off the plane and was being offered jobs. It’s not everyday that you get offered a job where you are hired at the highest level, doing what you do best (interpreting)! He was also hired on the spot as an emergency substitute teacher at an American high school just outside San José. So he ended up working two full-time jobs for a month! Now he’s back to only one, working evenings as an English-Spanish video medical interpreter, serving hospitals in USA, from a call center in Costa Rica. He’s also back into ministry with Christ for the City and being asked by several friends to consider helping with church planting. Ahhh! To be back into ministry and the latin culture and language! David was thrilled to be back in his tropical home country and was being touched by God. Robert submitted Roxanne’s resumé to three American Christian schools and all three are offering her a teaching position. It soon became clear that our time in Canada was coming to a close. God saw our great financial struggle in Canada, heard our plea, and relocated us. We did see His provision for our two main goals in Canada: our children’s citizenship and securing a permanent and safe living arrangement for Roxanne’s mom.

Reintegrating!

But, wait a minute, you say. What about the plan to set up a Christ For the City office in Ontario, Canada, that you talked about in the last letter? When we discussed this at length with the directors of Canada and the President of the organization, they agreed that it is the best thing for our family to be in Costa Rica at this time, after two challenging years in Canada. We will be in ministry there, just like we always have. But we will be self-supported through the call center and school jobs that God has provided, at least for now. There is so much to do there and the doors are wide open for us. Roxanne will once more be dedicated full-time to her passion: investing herself in the lives of school children, while sharing and modeling the love of Christ to them! Of course she will have many opportunities to minister to parents and teachers as well!

Resigning, Repacking, Rushing…!

Roxanne submitted her resignation at her desk job in London, Ontario and is diligently working on packing and selling everything… again!

Julianna’s school year culminated in a four-day trip and then graduation. She looked lovely! She is sad to be leaving her school and youth group friends. She’s happy to return to her tropical homeland, though, as long as she can take her cat with her! Some generous friends helped cover the cost of Robert’s plane ticket, so he could come up for a week for Juli’s graduation! He also had a chance to see his dad briefly, who was RV’ing through Northern USA and stopped through Niagara Falls to meet up with us. The call center in Costa Rica made an exception and granted Robert the one-week leave to fly up to Canada! God is good… all the time… and His ways and timing are always perfect (though He may often take us by surprise)!

Relatives and Reflections!

Roxanne is cramming in final visits with family members and friends. In July alone she will celebrate her sister-in-law’s baby shower and her niece’s, have a weekend getaway with her sisters, visit her brother, sister-in-law, and niece, four hours North in their new home, not to mention visits with her mother and aunt.  Julianna, her cat, and Roxanne travel back to Costa Rica on July 29th, closing yet another chapter in our adventures with God.

We are grateful for all the wonderful people who have been supportive to us in Canada. Family and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ from different churches, generously sharing their belongings, providing a place to live, or a helping hand, or finances. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks for allowing our gracious heavenly Father work through you! May God bless you all a hundredfold!

Please continue to pray for us as we readjust to life in Costa Rica. Pray for David to get the schooling he needs, for Juli to catch up on her Spanish and make new friends, and for a place to live. One thing we all agree on, we won’t miss the long, hard winters of Canada!

In His Care,

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna

February, 2014 Update

New Year, new chapter…
Something has been in the mind of God for a while, but only recently set in motion.  When our friend and fellow missionary, Sharon Pierrot (from back in the days of evangelistic Christmas musicals in Costa Rica!), found out that we had returned to Canada, God put on her heart that Robert might be the answer to her earnest cry for help. She flew over to visit us for a few days from Vancouver, B.C. in December, where she is the National Director of Christ For the City, Canada. She asked us to pray about Robert becoming the Regional Director of Christ For the City International here in Ontario.

…new mission field…
Early January, Robert made a trip to the main Headquarters of Christ For the City, International (CFCI), in Omaha, NE, to participate in the orientation and to meet with the Board of Directors. He was officially extended an invitation to return to CFCI once again as a full time missionary, serving in the role of Regional Representative for Eastern Canada, under the authority of the Canadian Director, Sharon Pierrot. Like they say in Costa Rica, “the tortilla has been flipped over” (an ocurrence now in the opposite direction), since Robert would be yet another case of a Latin American missionary serving in a spiritually needy area of North America!

…renewed vision…
We are excited about this new adventure, as Robert makes church contacts in Southern Ontario, offering the partnership and collaboration of Christ For the City. CFCI’s vision is: “No place without a witness; no church without a vision; no person without hope.” Besides networking with churches to help meet the needs of their cities here in Canada, our goal is for Robert to facilitate at least two short term mission groups to Latin America per year. Though far from “home”, being involved in CFCI again is like having a little of home away from home!  It’s a joy to be “back in the loop” in the CFCI ministry and working with our CFCI family again, after an absence of eight years (we moved to Honduras in Jan.’06)!

…new roles…
Roxanne will continue to work at her job in London as an insurance claims specialist. Her income, however, does not cover our regular monthly expenses. Robert needs to raise monthly support in order to meet our family needs, as well as cover his travel and other basic logistics costs for running the regional office (like a newer laptop and a second vehicle). Now that Roxanne has been through the three month probationary period at her job, she will be able to apply to sponsor Robert for his Canadian residency. For now, he will receive a letter from Christ For the City that will allow him to live here without a visa as a lay minister. Believe it or not, he is a missionary to Canada!

…new family adventures…
Three family highlights: Robert's brother, Tony, came to visit us from Florida the first week of Feb. He saw the Niagara Falls for the first time, quite the bone-chilling experience; an upcoming couple's retreat in West VA for Valentine's Day weekend. Our costs are being waived by the hosts; and Roxanne's 50th birthday celebration with her siblings, who will drive in from different cities on Feb. 22nd for her special day!

We covet your prayers as we set out on this new adventure. We are trusting Jehovah Jireh to provide all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19) Please pray about joining our regular prayer and financial support team. The info on how to partner with us financially is below.

May God grant you His strength, joy, and peace, as you put your trust in Him!

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna

-----------------------------------------------------------------

• In USA, please make donations payable to:

Christ For the City International

P.O. Box 390395

Omaha, NE. 68139-0395

• In Canada, please make donations payable to:

Christ For the City Canada

P.O. Box 75509 RPO Edgemont Village

3034 Edgemont Blvd.

North Vancouver, BC  V7R 4X1

…and attach a note specifying: for Robert Grego

January, 2014 Update

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We trust you all had a wonderful Christmas as you contemplated our Lord’s birth, and that this New Year of 2014 will hold showers of blessings for you and your family!

As we look back over 2013, although it was a difficult year for us, there is much to praise the Lord for, especially His faithfulness.  We are grateful for a home in St. Thomas, a job for Roxanne, our kids’ Canadian citizenship, new friends, a good church which we have joined, new ministry opportunities unfolding, and special times with family.  And even our cat!  The Lord is good!

I, Roxanne, was challenged at the end of 2012 to read through the Bible in chronological order over 2013.  I took the challenge and was truly blessed by His Word this year, finishing up with the last chapters with the turn to 2014.  I encourage you all to take up the challenge for this year.  Robert is joining me as we take on the challenge together this year.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

As we look forward to 2014, we do so with excitement, knowing that God has a plan for us here in Canada.  He is faithful and true to His promises. Be watching out for our next Grego Gazette as His plan unfolds!

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”  (Rev. 22:21)

With love and thankfulness,

Robert, Roxanne, David, and Julianna